Applying for SSDI - Suggestions Appreciated
 

I am going to be applying for SSDI online.

Anyone 'been there, done that' and have some helpful hints, suggestions for me?

What information should I gather before I begin?

I plan on getting copies of my medical records from all my doctors.

Appreciate any help.

Thanks!

Keep copies of everything you submit to Social Security.

Check out the "listings" for SSDI. They're broken down by issue by body system and mental health.

Tell Social Security about EVERY problem you have--not just the ones you think are important. For instance, if you have bladder problems, have a hammer toe, have MS, have anxiety/depression, have chronic bronchitis, and eczema--tell Social Security. Get all the records to back you up for that medical condition.

You can get your doctor to write a letter to SSA that discusses how your problem affects your ability to work. SSA won't care that your doc says he thinks you're disabled, that's SSA's determination to make in the process, but it will care what your doc says about how your problems affect your ability to do work related activity. And if your doc can include how often a month that you would need to miss work because of your medical/mental health problems, that would be good to include. Get friends/family/employers to write letters about the problems you have and how it affects your ability to do things related to work or around the house or with them. They can show before MS and after MS differences in your activity/ability level. If your employer was making any accommodations for you based on your problems, make sure your employer puts that into a letter--and for how long they were doing it.

Keep copies of EVERYTHING, including your medical records. Send in the names of the docs/facilities at which you were treated, the number of pages of medical records, and the dates the records covered (for each medical provider) to Social Security with a letter indicating the records are enclosed.

And if you're denied, appeal the decision promptly. All you have to say is, "I disagree with the decision. I believe I am disabled." as your reason to appeal. (note that isn't a long song and dance explanation and is pretty vague) Don't give up if you think you're disabled. And then seek the advice of an attorney--preferably an attorney who does SSDI/SSI work a lot--like a NOSSCR (google it) attorney.

Here's another post I made about this stuff. Sort of similar to what I've told you, but there's additional stuff in there. http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/post195950-6.html

Good luck and feel free to PM me if you have more questions.

It is imperative that all of your Doctors consider you to be disabled. SS will get all of your medical records from all of the Doctors you list. If you didn't like a Doctor you still should list them, if you don't SS will find out and not believe anything you told them since you omitted some information. It is not really needed to get a Lawyer unless you are denied, and most won't take you until you are. If denied it becomes very important. Always list your condition on your worst days, never your best.

The best of luck to you, may it be a short trip.

Bill,

What if a doctor you are seeing doesn't consider you disabled, say for instance your ob/gyn. Should that doctor lie? Should that doctor even submit a report? You have certainly confused what information Gazelle has so succinctly submitted.

Thanks Gazelle and wkikta :hug:

Do I need to get my copies of my medical records before I go online and fill out the SSDI application? Are they going to be asking info that will require me to have those records?

Thanks!

I think your point would be "don't write neurogenic bladder" or "Optical Neuritis" if this isn't something our doctors would agree with? Still write down meeting with that doc, just don't exaggerate the symptom.

I agree with Bill about writing your WORST day. I also have a number of suggestions, but I'll probably send them by PM because I would like to provide you with the type of "detail" they are looking for ... so will send you my write-up to get some ideas flowing.

Cherie

Joe just went through this process, and was approved in 2 MONTHS:), so in case you missed his "advice" in the other thread . . .

... btw, just trying to slightly edit my documentation before I send it to you by PM. :)

Cherie

Ssdi
 

I applied and was sent to "their doc and shrink". It was so hot in the docs office and my symptoms were going crazy!!! Their doc even asked me if someone else was driving me home. She thought I was worse than I had written about.
However; I was denied and got a lawyer. He expects it to take 3 years before my name is even called to go up before a judge. :(
(Michigan)
Don't under estimate the power of FATIGUE. If its a problem say so on your worst days ...know it is the #1 disabler of MS.

SSDI will request your medical records but I would gather them up myself and submit them. My primary doc took 6 weeks to send my info.
Also I don't think an OBGYN is going to impact one way or another about your disability. I'm sure he/she would bow to the expertise of the Neuro and PM.
Don't forget to get any copies of MRI reports etc. You may have to solicite them from a hospital.
You can get books on filing for SSD too that are very helpful.

The 5 month waiting period is mandatory for everyone! That's part of the law! One of the things that we've been working on is the waiting period, especially for those under 62! The waiting period!!! It can be up to 29 months!

Eliminating the 24-Month Medicare Waiting Period

Yes, for medicare. Once you are approved for medicare, under the age of 65, some people have to wait up to 24 months to be approved for SSDI. It's already been established that they are disabled but they have to go through the ridiculous process of waiting this 24 month period to establish they are really disabled. It's an antiquated process of investigating fraudulent claims. Once the claim is investigated, processed, then you wait another 5 months to receive your first check.

There is a bill in the house and senate to phase out this 24 month waiting period. We have been working with other disability organizations to get this bill passed.

We (NMSS Advocacy Group) will be going to Capitol Hill again in March 2009 to meet with our Legislators to work on this.

Hi Faith, thanks for the input, that is a bummer about not getting 2 months of pay, if it IS 2 months why don't they pay us that way.........:confused:

Thanks again, at least that is a LITTLE issue compared to what we COULD be facing right?

:)
Joe

my advice: GET AN ATTORNEY!!! They only charge a small amount and they actually collect that from your first check, you pay nothing up front.

I hired a local attorney and he got me approved on the first try, in 2 months. I have heard MANy people with MS get denied because "people with MS get better"

My reason for getting an attorney is two fold, 1) they know how to do it right the first time, my attorney's have paralegals who used to work for SS and know how to get it right. and 2) if you get denied, the appeal process is very lengthy and can take years to get approved if denied. I also heard rumors that the SS admin is only reviewing new cases until 2010, then they will work on appeals. .

I thought that most attorneys will tell you to file your claim first and if you are denied, then come to them. That most SSDI attorneys only take you if you've been denied.

Is this not true?

According to the information I have recently received, having an attorney from the beginning won't hurt.

Sorry if you disagree with me Faith...I was just offering information passed on by someone who does this for a living...:D

I contacted several attorney's prior to completing my online application for SSDI. Each one of them told me to apply and if I was denied then they would represent me.

I applied and within two months I was approved. I got my award letter in July and my SSDI started in September.

It must vary by state. But I'd hate to pay a lawyer for something I could have done on my own. If I had been denied I'd have hired one.....but not before.

applied denied 3 or 4 times lost track lawyer been on it for two years now, Who ever said mention even the smallest SX you have, mention it, they are right, as far as i can see its a complicated system with rules and critieria being determined by machines

Good Luck Baxter

The MS Society helped me, here in Canada, and it's a good thing because there were so many things that I didn't even think about until they questioned me. In fact, some of the "issues" they brought up seemed "silly" to me, but I went with their advice and was approved immediately on both LTD (private) and CPP (government).

They want to know EVERYTHING, but especially what precludes us from working. For me it was mainly fatigue and unpredictability/unreliability due to relapses. At that point I was having a relapse every three months, and they usually lasted 3 - 4 weeks, so what employer would accommodate that?

They wanted to know precisely what a relapse 'looked' like too.

The other thing was that they wanted to know that I couldn't do ANY job (not just in my chosen career), and not even a part-time one. My employer had accommodated me, by allowing me to work from home for two years, and I was still unable to squeeze in 7 hrs of work per day. That worked in my favor because I had clearly been TRYING to stay in the workforce.

Detail, consistency in answers, and doctor records. That's what they want.

Cherie

Right on Cherie, I forgot to list these things you say, my MS chapter up here helped me also the way you describe.

Joe

My advice is just to be honest. And report any symptom even if youdon't think it has anything to dow ith MS. Cause if that symptom added to your MS symptoms add up to someti=hing bigger, it may count for something. And be patient in waiting. It took my the two denial and going to court to finally get mine. The original judge assigned to me was going to sign it without seeing me but he remembered that he knew me so he had to have another judge take my case. Good luck

The costs of living each year are nice.

I waited about 10 months to file, wasn`t sure what was going on with my health but something was up, DW convinced me to file.

It took 19 months here in Ohio, denied twice and approved at an ALJ hearing, the same month I got my correct dx. I hired an attorney after the first denial, just easier for me because I couldn`t get around well.

Medical records may prove your case easier than anything, first 4 or 5 doctors couldn`t figure what the exact problem was, but a documented history of a problem. The correct dx just icing on the cake at the hearing.

keep a simple journal ... and whenever you see your lawyer or doctor - when they ask 'how are you?' ... always answer that you are in pain ... or hurting all the time .. as soon as one issue goes away, another one appears ... it's frustrating ...

remember to keep you own mind positive that you are doing your best ... but the SSDI, doctors and lawyers ONLY see either you on a very limited time basis .. and what's on paper ... or a number, not a person!

when asked (by my lawyer) to have my doctor fill out the MS questionnaire - 5 pages!!! .. I first made a copy of it .. filled it out myself - so when I went to the doctor with the blank set and my set ... it took less than a week to get it back from the doctor SIGNED ... and when I brought the signed 5-pager to the lawyer - he said "that was fast!" ... I said that I've been waiting for over a year ... and learned the hard way ...

and, I got a letter from my neuro (seperately) about my symptoms making it difficult to work at a job at this time ...

keeping my fingers crossed for you!!

Hello,

In addition to the above suggestions, I offer the following.........

Find a place on the application to include every MS symptom you ever had, even if the symptom hasn't returned in a long time or has never returned... because MS damage often occurs again where there already once was a lesion.

For each symptom above, ALWAYS try to follow this format:

"My MS tremors stop me from performing activities of daily living, such as cutting food with a knife, writing with a pen, holding and drinking from a cup, brushing my teeth and more."

"My MS-caused flatulence, which is extreme, stops me from performing activities of daily living because co-workers become embarrassed and don't want to work with me or even work anywhere near me."

"My MS Optic Neuritis stops me from performing activities of daily living because I can't always read a computer monitor because the brightness makes me go blind."

"My MS spasticity stops me from performing activities of daily living because the medication Baclofen, which is medically necessary for me to take, makes me too tired during the daytime to concentrate on work."

Do not worry about repeating many times the phrases "My MS (fill in the blank) stops me from performing activities of daily living because..." and "which is medically necessary for me to take."

Best of luck.

~Annie

Great advice, and those are the kind of smal details that MS Society told me to put in my applications as well.

Is this sweet Annie123? :welcome_sign::Wave-Hello:

Cherie

That is great advice Annie. I was a disability specialist for social security for 15 years and what you advised was what I was "advised" to do. It was very hard for me to apply and someone gave me those tips and it worked. Hard to be on the other end, but you got to do what you got to do. Pat